Gord Bamford, Chad Brownlee, Brett Kissel and Special Guest Kelsea Ballerini to Perform on the 2016 CCMA Awards Show

#CCMAawards

(Toronto, ON) August 16, 2016 – The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) announced this morning that Gord Bamford, Chad Brownlee, and Brett Kissel joined by Carolyn Dawn Johnson will perform at the 2016 CCMA Awards Show on Sunday, September 11. The CCMA is pleased to welcome special guest Kelsea Ballerini, who will also perform. Being broadcast from London, ON and hosted by Canadian television personality Jessi Cruickshank, the 2016 CCMA Awards Show will air live on CBC at 8 p.m. (8:30 p.m. NT) with an encore airing on CMT (Canada) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Previously announced acts set to take the stage: Dean Brody, High Valley, Madeline Merlo and Jess Moskaluke.

Gord Bamford stands as one of the most decorated artists in Canadian country music with an impressive 20 CCMA Awards and multiple JUNO Award nominations. He’s also recognized stateside as one of only three Canadians, and the only two-time winner, of the Country Music Association’s 2013 and 2015 CMA Global Country Artist Award. It’s his distinctive sound and songwriting ability that defines Gord Bamford as one of country music’s best neotraditional artists. Bamford’s seventh studio album, Tin Roof, is nominated for the 2016 CCMA Award for Album of the Year.

With over one billion radio impressions to date, Chad Brownlee has seen his singles rapidly climb the country music charts, with multiple songs cracking the national Top 10, including his recent single “I Hate You For It”. Throughout his career, Brownlee has received critical acclaim and numerous accolades including a highly coveted 2013 JUNO Award nomination for Country Album of the Year, and most recently multiple 2016 CCMA Award nominations, including Album of the Year for Hearts on Fire, the fourth release in his discography.

Brett Kissel has now been nominated for a CCMA Award a total of 19 times in his young career. Apple Music Canada named his sophomore release Pick Me Up the best country album of 2015, CBC included it on their list of top Canadian albums and it earned Brett a JUNO Award nomination for Country Album of the Year. His latest single, "Cool With That", has become his eighth consecutive Top 10 radio hit – including a No. 1 single with “Airwaves.” Joining Kissel for his performance on the CCMA Awards Show is one of the top leading ladies in Canadian country music – 17-time CCMA Award winner and JUNO Award-winning Carolyn Dawn Johnson.

Kelsea Ballerini launched to stardom with two consecutive #1 smashes – PLATINUM-certified "Love Me Like You Mean It” and GOLD-certified follow-up “Dibs” – from her critically acclaimed debut album The First Time. Ballerini is the first solo female artist in 15 years to hit #1 with her first two country singles and one of only 11 women to have ever hit the top of the charts with a debut. Her latest GOLD-certified single, “Peter Pan” is flying up the country radio charts. Awarded Billboard’s Rising Star honor at the prestigious 2015 Women In Music event, Ballerini continues to rack up the accolades earning her first-ever ACM Award win for New Female Vocalist of the Year, the fan-voted Radio Disney Music Award for The Freshest - Best New Artist (all genre) and the American Country Countdown Award (ACCA) for Breakthrough Female of the Year. She’s thrilled to be performing on the 2016 CCMA Awards Show.

Eight CCMA Awards will be presented on the 2016 CCMA Awards Show. The broadcast will feature a number of special performances and collaborations, and will include appearances by a collection of Canadian personalities and country music acts. Additional CCMA Awards Show performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Bristow Global Media Inc. will produce the show for the second year in a row.   

A limited number of tickets for the 2016 CCMA Awards Show are still available and can be purchased online HERE, by calling 1-866-455-2849, or by visiting the Budweiser Gardens Box Office (99 Dundas Street, London, ON). 

For more information on the 2016 CCMA Awards Show or Country Music Week, visit ccma.org.

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About the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA):
Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Sponsors of Country Music Week and the 2016 CCMA Awards Show include FACTOR, Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters and The Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Canada Music Fund”, Radio Starmaker Fund, the Province of Ontario, the City of London and Tourism London.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. We are Canada's trusted source of news, information and Canadian entertainment. Deeply rooted in communities all across the country, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages. We also provide international news and information from a uniquely Canadian perspective.

For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre. Follow CBC’s publicity team on Twitter @CBC_Publicity.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
CMT (Canada) is a Corus Entertainment Network. Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that creates and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world. The company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompasses 45 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a global content business, digital assets, live events, children’s book publishing, animation software, technology and media services. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network Canada, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, HISTORY®, Showcase, National Geographic Channel, Q107, CKNW, Fresh Radio, Disney Channel Canada, YTV and Nickelodeon Canada. Visit Corus at www.corusent.com.

About Bristow Global Media Inc. (BGM)
Bristow Global Media Inc. (BGM) is a Toronto-based content creation company, specializing in creating multi-platform content across all genres, including scripted, lifestyle, reality, documentary and sports. The company was launched in 2013 by leading broadcast executive and producer Julie Bristow, whose 20-year career at the CBC included the creation of award-winning entertainment divisions, the launch of national digital media platforms and the stewardship of iconic sports brands. BGM boasts a successful roster of linear and non-linear content, including: NHL Revealed: A Season Like No Other (CBC, NBCSN, Rogers), Pressure Cooker (W Network), Hockey Wives (W Network),Canada: The Story of US (CBC), Canadian Country Music Association’s CCMA Awards (CBC and CMT),  Pardon My French (YouTube) and YTV’s daily interstitial brand-driven content. In addition, BGM is partnered with Jamie Oliver’s Fresh One Productions in the UK for content development.

Media Contacts for Information and Artist Interviews:
Jess Seguire | jess@penelopepr.com | 613-921-2314
Tiffany Astle | tiffany@penelopepr.com | 416-554-7329 

We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada 
and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
 
Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier de FACTOR, du gouvernement du Canada, 
et des radio diffuseurs privés du Canada